Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed during his working trip to attend the BRICS Leaders' Meeting in Kazan, Russia, on October 23, 2024.

On the occasion of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and his wife's official visit to Vietnam and attendance at the 4th Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals (P4G) Summit from April 14-17 at the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife, Vietnamese Ambassador to Tanzania and Ethiopia Vu Thanh Huyen gave an interview to The Gioi and Viet Nam Newspaper, highlighting the significance of the visit and the potential for cooperation in sustainable green development between the two P4G member countries.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Tanzania concurrently serving in Ethiopia. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Tanzania)

Could you please share with us the significance of the upcoming bilateral and multilateral visit of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to Vietnam, especially as the two countries are looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year (February 23, 1976 - February 23, 2026)?

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's first official visit to Vietnam comes at a meaningful time, as the two countries are looking towards celebrating the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations in 2026.

This is a special milestone, not only demonstrating the two sides' appreciation for the traditional friendship and good cooperation that has been preserved and nurtured over nearly half a century, but also clearly demonstrating the strategic vision and desire of the two countries to elevate and deepen bilateral relations in the new stage of development.

The visit is also an important opportunity for the two sides to comprehensively review all areas of cooperation, evaluate the results achieved, and exchange directions and shape more substantive and effective cooperation frameworks in the coming time.

In particular, combining the bilateral visit with the participation in the P4G Summit demonstrates Ethiopia’s appreciation for Vietnam’s increasingly prominent role in multilateral mechanisms, as well as its desire to work with Vietnam to promote global initiatives on climate change response, green growth, innovation and sustainable development. This is also a vivid demonstration of the spirit of proactive, responsible cooperation and mutual development for the common interests of the international community.

What activities is Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expected to have in Vietnam? What does the Ambassador expect from the “2 in 1” visit of the head of the Ethiopian Government?

As planned, during the visit, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will meet with senior leaders of Vietnam to discuss bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual concern. In addition, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will also attend the P4G Summit and have meetings with businesses to promote economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

I hope this visit will create new momentum to elevate the Vietnam-Ethiopia relationship to a deeper and more substantial level, while promoting negotiations on important agreements and deals in the fields of trade, investment, air transport, science and technology, agriculture, cyber security, and enhancing Vietnam's presence and image in the African region in general and Ethiopia in particular.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang and Deputy Foreign Minister Mesganu Arga co-chaired the first session of the Vietnam-Ethiopia Political Consultation, February 2025.

So what are the highlights of Vietnam-Ethiopia relations over the past half century, Ambassador?

Political and diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Ethiopia have always been well maintained, with mutual support in international and regional issues.

Ethiopia has supported Vietnam's candidacy for important United Nations (UN) agencies, including the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the 2015-2019 term and the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the 2016-2018 term.

In April 2014, Ethiopia officially recognized Vietnam as a market economy, marking an important step forward in trade relations between the two countries.

In 2019, Ethiopia supported Vietnam's candidacy for a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term.

In return, Vietnam also strongly supports Ethiopia in its candidacy for the position of Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2022. In 2023 and 2024, Vietnam and Ethiopia will continue to maintain close cooperation at international forums.

Both countries are members of P4G. Ethiopia attended the P4G Summit in Colombia in 2023. The presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed at the P4G Summit 2025 hosted by Vietnam further underscores the important role of both countries in promoting green growth and sustainable development.

Regarding economic and trade relations, in the past 3 years, the total two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Ethiopia has averaged about 10-15 million USD/year. In 2024, the bilateral turnover will reach 13.1 million USD (of which Vietnam's exports will reach 7.11 million USD and imports will reach 6.06 million USD).

Although the trade turnover between the two countries remains “modest”, the potential for economic cooperation is huge. Vietnam has exported agricultural products, consumer goods and industrial goods to Ethiopia, including machinery, spare parts, textile fibers and chemical products. In return, Ethiopia supplies Vietnam with items such as textile and garment materials, footwear and coffee.

Ambassador Vu Thanh Huyen (2nd from left) accompanied Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang (5th from left) during a working session with the Minister and Director of the Ethiopian Information and Cyber ​​Security Agency (4th from left), February 2025.

As two countries sharing the same aspirations and goals of rapid and sustainable development and prioritizing innovation, green transformation, and digital transformation, what should Vietnam and Ethiopia do to support each other in sustainable development and enhance bilateral cooperation in these areas?

Vietnam and Ethiopia are both on a rapid development path, focusing on innovation, green transformation and digital transformation to build a sustainable economy. To support each other in this goal, the two countries can take some specific measures such as:

First, sharing experiences and knowledge. Vietnam has a lot of experience in green transformation, digital transformation and innovation, especially in the fields of agriculture and information technology. Ethiopia can learn from and apply these successful models in its own context.

Second, strengthen cooperation in research and development. Both countries need to promote cooperation in the fields of technology research and development, especially in green industries, renewable energy and digital technology. This cooperation will not only create sustainable solutions but also help create more job opportunities for people.

Third , human resource training. Vietnam can support Ethiopia in training high-quality human resources, especially in the fields of information technology, modern agriculture and green industries. Training programs and scholarships will help Ethiopia improve its competitiveness and development.

Fourth , promote trade and investment cooperation. Investment opportunities in sectors such as renewable energy, high-tech agriculture and green industry can be further exploited, laying a solid foundation for long-term cooperation between the two countries.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang took a photo with Vietnamese and Ethiopian leaders and workers working at MK Company - the first joint venture project between enterprises of the two countries, February 2025.

Ethiopia is a beautiful country located in the Horn of Africa, but due to its geographical distance, it is still quite unfamiliar to most Vietnamese people. Could you share your personal impressions and memories of the country and people of Ethiopia?

While working in Ethiopia, I had many opportunities to interact and learn about this country. What impressed me most was the hospitality and sincerity of the people here. They are very enthusiastic, friendly and always ready to support in any situation.

​Ethiopia is a country in East Africa, known for its rich and diverse culture. As a country that has never been colonized, Ethiopia is proud of its unique cultural identity.

Ethiopians are very proud of their traditions and cultural heritage, which is reflected in their unique festivals, customs and religious ceremonies. These elements contribute to strong bonds between communities and demonstrate respect for traditional cultural values.

In addition, I am particularly impressed by the efforts of the Ethiopian Government in economic and social development, especially in areas such as education, agriculture and infrastructure. These steps not only benefit the Ethiopian people but also lay the foundation for good cooperative relations with other countries, including Vietnam.

I am very proud to witness the increasingly close cooperation between the two countries and hope that these efforts will contribute to the sustainable development and prosperity of both Vietnam and Ethiopia in the future.

Thank you very much Ambassador!

Over the years, Ethiopia has made great efforts in economic and social development, especially in areas such as education, agriculture and infrastructure. (Source: Kayak)